NDS: Badruddin’s death irreparable loss to Haqqanis

KABUL (PAN): The Afghan spy service on Sunday said its operatives had confirmed the death of a major Haqqani network leader in a US drone strike in Pakistan’s militant-infested tribal region of Waziristan, saying the assassination dealt an irreparable loss to the outfit.

National Directorate of Security (NDS) Deputy Director Shafiqullah Tahiri told reporters in Kabul that their operatives had confirmed Badruddin Haqqani, the son of the founder of the powerful Haqqani militant network, was killed last week in a US drone attack. He did not provide details. Tahiri said Badruddin shouldered five important tasks at the network.

He has operational responsibilities in south and southeast of Kabul and organised target attacks in Kabul in coordination with other networks like Jaish-i-Mohammadi, Sapah-i-Sahaba and Lashkar-i-Taiba, the official said.

The Haqqani kept close contacts with the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan (IMU), Chechens, Arabs and Pakistanis and played a key role in attracting seminary students in Pakistan for suicide attacks in Afghanistan.

"The assassination of Badruddin is an irreparable loss to the Haqqani network. It will help stem terrorist activities,'' the intelligence official said.

The Afghan Taliban rejected reports that Badruddin had been killed, a day after and members of the Pakistani government said they believed Badruddin was dead.

Zabiullah Mujahid said in an email late Saturday that Haqqani is alive and in good health in Afghanistan, conflicting with assertions that a US drone strike killed Haqqani in the north Waziristan tribal region near the Afghan border.

Pakistani intelligence officials have also said they were certain the Haqqani was killed in an American missile strike Tuesday. They said their information was based on reports received from their agents in the field but acknowledged they haven't spoken to anyone who has seen the body.